Here And Now

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s vacation appears to be over. He’s in Suffolk and Westchester counties today with no public schedule, due in CNY tomorrow for State Fair opening day and a fundraiser co-hosted by GOP Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney and the Business Council.

The Bloomberg administration is blaming unions – mostly DC37 – for the 777 Department of Education layoffs looming in October – the largest layoff at a single agency since the mayor took office.

The state Democratic Party will reportedly spend six figures to help Assemblyman David Weprin win a seat most people think will be redistricted out of existence in 2012.

Bob Turner says the Zadroga Health Care Act is too broad and shouldn’t include volunteers who were sickened after working at Ground Zero.

The NY Times calls on Cuomo to ready his own redistricting maps, says “word on the street” is LATFOR will delay release of new lines until next year, arguing it’s too late for an alternative plan.

Nationally, the GOP is using state-level redistricting to try to shore up its House majority.

Former Rep. Dan Maffei is officially seeking a re-match against Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle, whom he called “radical and extreme.”

AG Eric Schneiderman was abruptly removed from a national committee leading foreclosure settlement negotiations with the nation’s largest banks because he allegedly “actively worked” to undermine its efforts.

The TU hails Schneiderman’s hard line against settling with the banks for their role in the mortgage crisis, urging him not to “fold” now.

While Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is open to Bloomberg’s push for more red light cameras, some of the mayor’s allies – including Sen. Marty Golden – are opposed to the idea.

Religious leaders and former Giuliani administration Deputy Mayor Rudy Washington are calling on Bloomberg to reverse his decision not to have clergy at the event to commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

Three nationally televised GOP 2012 debates are scheduled to take place next month: Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, on Sept. 7; in Tampa, Florida, on Sept. 12; and in Orlando, Florida on Sept. 22.